There has been disagreement over whether S. monticolus is distinct from S. vagrans at the species level; most recent studies recognize S. monticolus as a distinct species (e.g., Jones et al. 1992, Hutterer in Wilson and Reeder 1993 and 2005, Smith and Belk 1996).

Justification:
This species is listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, its local abundance, and because it is unlikely to be declining at nearly the rate required to qualify for listing in a threatened category.

This widespread species occurs from Alaska and western Canada, south through the western United States (although patchily distributed) and the highlands of the Sierra Madre Occidental in Mexico (Baker and Greer, 1962). The highest altitudinal records in Mexico are around 2,600 m asl in Durango (Baker and Greer, 1962).

It is found in a variety of habitat types: montane boreal and coastal coniferous forest and alpine areas; damp meadows surrounded by coniferous forest, in grass among spruce-fir, mid-elevation fir-larch, along streams and rivers in high prairie, mossy banks of small streams, alpine tundra, sphagnum bogs.

In Mexico it is included in legislation protection under the NOM 059 SEMARNAT 2001, under the name of Sorex vagrans monticola. In the State of California the species is listed as a "Species of Special Concern". It presumably occurs in protected areas throughout its range.